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OOMPILEID BV 

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q/ State Board 0/ Elections 



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2 


ELECTIONS. 


REGISTRATION. 

In all the countie's of 50,000 inhabitants or over and in all 
civil districts of 2,500 inhabitants or over, *also in all wards or 
civil districts in which there is a town of 750 inhabitants or over 
in counties containing 15,000 inhabitants and upwards, registra¬ 
tion is a prerequisite to voting; Provided, that the last published 
census shall control in every case.—E'ic. 8es. 1890, Ck. 25; Acts 
1891, Ch. 224; Ex. Ses. 1891, Ch. 12. 

Only one general registration shall be held every two years 
in order to entitle voters to vote, except upon a change of resi¬ 
dence. In civil districts of under 5,000 inhabitants, situated in 
counties not wholly subject to the registration laws, such general 
registration shall occur ever;^' four years.— Ex. Ses. 1895, Ch. 3. 

The Commissioners of Registration shall appoint for each 
ward or civil district two registrars of voters, who shall be resi¬ 
dents of the wards or civil districts for wtiich they are appointed, 
not more than one of whom shall be of the same political party.— 
Code, Sec. 1192. 

Before entering upon their duties the registrars shall take 
and subscribe to the following oath: ‘‘I do solemnly swear 
(or affirm) that I will faithfully and impartially keep the register 
of voters in my district (or ward) ; that I will not knowingly 
register or allow to be registered any person not a legally quali¬ 
fied voter, and that I will not knowingly prevent any person from 
registering who is a legally qualified voter, so help me God.’’— 
Code, Sec. 1214. 

The registrars shall open books for the registration of voters 
in their respective wards and districts on the second Monday in 
August, 1895, and every two years thereafter. Said books shall 
remaui open from 8 a. m. to 9 p. m. for ten days, Sundays 
excluded. They shall issue certificates to all qualified voters 
applying therefor within said ten days.—Code, Secs. 1195-1197. 

The registration books shall be open for three successive days 
at least twenty days prior to every election for the purpose of 
registering those who have not previously registered or who shall 
have changed their residence since the last general registration.— 
Acts Ex. Ses. 1895, Ch. 3. 

*Note.—Ch. 147, Acts 1901, declared unconstitutional by 
Supreme Court. 



ELECTIONS. 


3 


If the registrars disagree as to the right of an applicant to 
he registered as a voter, they shall register his name, and after 
issuing the certificate of registration shall write across the face 
of the same the words, “The registrars disagree,” whereupon 
the applicant may take such certificate td the Commissioners 
of Registration, who shall determine the question of disagree¬ 
ment and endorse on the certificate the words, “Approved” or 
“Disapproved,” and the holder of such certificate shall not be 
entitled to vote unless the word “Approved” is endorsed on the 
certificate and signed by the majority of the Board of Commis¬ 
sioners.—Code, Sec. 1212. 

At the close of each day’s registration the registrars shali 
draw a heavy black line in ink immediately under the last name 
registered on that day, entirely across the page of the registration 
book, to indicate the completion of that day’s registration.— 
Code, Sec. 1209. 

When the books of registration are completed they shall be 
turned over by the registrars to the Commissioners of Registra¬ 
tion for their county for safe keeping, and said commissioners 
shall thereafter be held responsible for the same.— Code, Sec. 
1207. 


SPECIAL ELECTIONS. 

Special elections are held (1) to fill*vacancies in the office of 
Senator or Representative in the General Assembly or of Repre¬ 
sentative in Congress, or (2) where a vacancy in any office is 
required to be filled by election at a time other than the time 
fixed for the general election, or (3) in such other cases as are or 
may be provided by law.— Code, Sec. 1160. 

{a) The Governor shall give notice by proclamation of vacan¬ 
cies in the offices of Representative in Congress, members of 
Assembly, judges, district attorneys general, and also shall issue 
writs of election to the officers charged by law to hold the election 
in the county where the vacancy is to be filled. Upon receipt of 
which writ or notice of proclamation such officer shall give notice 
of the time, place, and object of such election by publication in 
some newspaper in the county.— Code, Secs. 1162-1165. 

(&) All other special elections shall be opened and held up®n 
notice by the Commissioners of Registration. 


4 


ELECTIONS. 


(Note.—Special elections for judges, district attorneys gen¬ 
eral, clerks, registers, and tax assessors, shall occur only at the 
general biennial August election.— Constitution, Art, 2, Secs. 2-5; 
Code, Secs. 1157, 763; Note to Code, Sec. 558.) 

(c) Vacancies in the offices of justice of the peace and con¬ 
stable shall be filled by special election to be held for the purpose 
on at least twenty-three days’ notice.—Acts 1895, Ch. 3, Ex. Ses.; 
Code, Secs. 431, 492. 

Should a vacancy occur in the offices of Sheriff, Trustee, 
County Court Clerk and Register, it shall be filled by the County 
Court until the general biennial August election; vacancies 
in the offices of Circuit and Criminal Court Clerks are filled 
by appointment of the Judges of the respective Courts until the 
next general biennial August election.—AH. 7, Sec. 2, Const. 

RIGHTS OF ELECTORS. 

PERSONS ENTITLED TO VOTE. 

Every male citizen of the age of twenty-one years being a 
citizen of the United States and a resident of this State for 
twelve months, and of the county wherein he may offer to 
vote for six months next preceding the day of election, shall 
be entitled to vote.—Code, Sec. 1167. 

All persons shall vote in the civil district or ward in which 
they reside, except as follows: 

1. Judges, jurors, litigants, and witnesses attending court 
may vote in any ward or district in which court is held. 

2. Sheriffs or other officers holding elections may vote in 
any ward or district in which they may hold an elecftioii. 

3. Candidates for county and State offices or for Congress 
may vote in any ward or district of their county in which 
they may be on election day. 

4. If from any cause, there should be a failure to hold an 
election in any civil district or ward, the voters thereof may vote 
in any other district or ward in their county or town.—Code, 
Secs. 1168, 1169. 

PLACE OP VOTING. 

If any person go out of his county for a definite purpose, 
not intending to change his home, and return on or before the 
day of election, he shall be entitled to vote; and when a person 


ELECTIONS. 


5 


has a fixed residence in a county, the same shall continue to 
be his residence until he change the same to some other county or 
State.— Sec. 1171. 

(Note.—Such voter must be registered as re(juired by the 
registration laws.) 

ELECTORS^ PRIVILEGES. 

Ejectors shall in all cases, except treason, felony, or breach 
of the peace, be privileged from arrest or summons during their 
attendance at elections, and in going to and returning from 
tYiQm.—Code, Sec. 1172. 

ELECTION PRECINCTS. 

The place of holding elections shall be in each civil district 
at some convenient locality, to be designated by the County 
Court at least six months before the election, and entered of 
record.—Code, Sec. 1175. 

The sheriffs of the different counties in this State shall open 
and hold the elections provided for, according to the rules, 
regulations, and restrictions required by law, and if there be 
no sheriff, or if he be a candidate, the coroner shall hold the 
elections; or if there be no coroner, or if he be incompetent, 
then the election shall be held by some person appointed by the 
County Court, and said officer or person shall appoint a sufficient 
number of deputies to hold said elections.—Code, Secs. 1157-1178. 

(Note.—The Commissioners of Registration and Election 
Commissioners now perform the duties formerly imposed upon 
the sheriff, coroner, and other officers of opening and holding 
elections, returning the results, and issuing certificates of elec¬ 
tion.—1897, Ch. 16.) 

The Commissioners of Registration appoint all the officers 
of elections, and the judges or inspectors and clerks of election.— 
Acts 1897, Ch. 16. 

In case of failure at a particular voting place to appoint 
officers, any justice of the peace present, or, if none be present, 
any three freeholders may perform the duties of holding the 
election, or, in case of necessity, may act as officers or inspectors. 
Code, Sec. 1184. 

OATHS OP JUDGES. 

The officer or person holding any election, or some justice 


6 


ELECTIONS, 


of the peace, before the opening of the polls, shall administer 
to the judges appointed to hold the election the following oath: 

‘‘You do solemnly swear that as judge of this election you 
will suffer no* one to vote whom you know of your own knowledge 
or who appears, either by his own oath or by the testimony of 
others, not to be a qualified voter; that you will not suffer the 
ballot box to be out of the presence or sight of at least two of 
your number until every vote is counted out; that you will faith¬ 
fully and impartially conduct yourselves as judges of this elec¬ 
tion, and that you will in all respects perform the duties imposed 
upon you by law as judges and inspectors of this election/^— 
Code, Sec. 1885. 

OATH OF CLERK OF ELECTION, 

The clerks of the different elections shall take the following 
oath: 

“You do solemnly swear that you will faithfully, truly, and 
impartially discharge your duty as clerk of this election. ’ ’ 

Which oath shall be administered by the officer of election^ 
or the justice of the peace, or by one of the judges themselves.— 
Code, Sec. 1186. ‘ 

COMPENSATION FOR HOLDING ELECTIONS. 

The Commissioners of Registration, after the election returns 
are deposited with them, shall deliver to the Chairman of the 
County Court a complete list of the judges, clerks, and officers 
of election, to each of whom said Chairman shall issue a warrant 
for one dollar.—Code, Secs. 1187, 1188; Acts 1897, Ch. 16. 

REQUIREMENTS AS TO BALLOTS. 

The ballots printed for use at the public expense shall con¬ 
tain the names of all the candidates w^ho have been put in 
nomination by any caucus, convention, mass meeting, or other 
assembly of any political party of this State at least ten days 
previous to the day of election. It shall be the duty of the Chair¬ 
man of the Board of Commissioners to have printed all necessary 
ballots for use under the provisions of this article, and he shall 
cause to be printed upon said ballots the names of candidates so 
nominated, upon the written request of any one of the candidates 
so nominated, or upon the written request of any qualified voter, 


ELECTIONS. 


1 


who will affirm that he was a member of said caucus, and the 
name presented by him was the nominee of said caucus, conven¬ 
tion or mass meeting, or other assembly, of any such political 
party.—Code, Sec. 1233. 

The Commissioners of Election shall, in addition to the ballots, 
prepare separate cards, to be called “Cards of Instructions,’' 
for the guidance of voters at such elections, and they shall fur¬ 
nish the same and the ballots for use in every election.—Code, 
Sec. 1241. 

The said officers shall cause to be printed upon said ballots 
the name of any qualified voter wha has been requested to 
become a candidate for any office by a written petition signed 
by at least fifteen citizens qualified to vote in the election to 
fill said office, when such petition has been given in at least 
ten days previous to the election.—Code, Sec. 1234. 

If any qualified citizen has been nominated, as above specified, 
within less than ten days of the election,' or has been requested 
to be a candidate, as above specified, then said names shall not be 
printed upon said tickets, but in addition to the names printed 
upon said tickets there shall be at least one blank space under 
each office to be-voted for, and the candidate nominated or who 
desires to run of his own volition, may have a separate ticket 
printed, upon which the title of the office for which he is a candi¬ 
date and his own name and address shall be printed; and said 
candidate may give these to the officer or officers distributing 
ballots upon the day of election, and said officers shall give to 
each voter, in addition to the printed ticket as hereinafter 
specified a copy of said ticket. The voter receiving said ticket 
shall not vote it, but may consult it to enable him to write upon 
the ticket printed at public expense the name of such candidate, 
should he so desire, and designate the same by a mark as herein¬ 
before prescribed.— Code, Sec. 1235. 

After the proper officer has been notified of the nomination 
of any candidate for any office he ’shall not withdraw the same 
unless upon the written request of the candidate so nominated, 
made at least ten days before the election.—Code, Sec. 1237. 


8 


ELECTIONS. 


PROCEEDINGS AT THE POLLS. 

VOTING. 

On the day of any election 'held, where registration is 
required, the registrars for each district or voting precinct shall 
appear at the place where said election is being held, with the 
books containing the names of all registered voters, together with 
a copy of the same, and shall occupy a place inside the polling 
precincts, and as each voter therein registered shall vote, said 
registrars shall check off or mark said voter; and said registrars 
shall make a copy of said voters checked off and return the same 
tothe officer holding the election, who shall file the same with 
the election returns. But a failure of the registrars to attend and 
check the voters shall not render an an ejection void.— Code, Sec. 
1217. 

The registrars shall have charge of the official ballots and the 
cards of instruction to voters issued by the Commissioners of 
Election, on the day of election, and shall distribute them to 
each voter as he presents himself to cast his ballot. He shall 
stand not closer than ten feet to the entrance of the room in 
which the ballot box is placed. There shall be appointed by the 
Commissioners of Registration for every polling place one assist¬ 
ant registrar, who shall serve for the day of election only and 
without compensation.—OotZe, Secs. 1242, 1244, 1246. 

Upon receipt of his ballot the voter shall present to the assist¬ 
ant registrar his blank ballot and certificate of registration, 
who shall number the ballot upon the stub thereof and also place 
upon the certificate of registration the same number.— Sec. 
1247. 

Upon receiving the ballot from the registrar the voter shall 
thereupon proceed to place a cross mark X opposite the name 
of the candidate of his choice for each office to be filled, or by 
filling in the name of the candidate of his choice in ’the blank 
space provided therefor, and marking a cross mark X opposite 
thereto. No voter shall be allowed to occupy a voting booth 
longer than ten minutes, if other voters are not waiting, or longer 
than five minutes in the event other voters are waiting.— Code, 
Secs. 1248, 1251. 

If any voter spoils his ballot he may successively obtain 


ELECTIONS. ■ 


9 


others, one at a time, not exceeding three in all, upon returning 
each spoiled one.—Code, Sec. 1253. 

If the voter marks more names than there are persons to 
be elected to an office, or if for any reason it is impossible to 
determine the voter’s choice for any office to be filled, his ballot 
shall not be counted for such office. But this shall not vitiate 
the ballot so far as properly marked. No ballot without the 
official endorsement of the Chairman of the Board of Commis¬ 
sioners shall be deposited.—Code, Sec. 1255. 

If there be two tickets rolled up together, or if any ticket con¬ 
tain the names of more persons than the elector has a right to 
vote for, in either of these cases such tickets shall not be numbered 
in taking the ballots, but shall be adjudged void.—Code, Sec. 
1280. 

(Note.—The judges in their certificate should state that such 
ticket was adjudged void.) 

Each qualified voter, after preparing his ballot according 
to law, shall give it to the returning officer in presence of the 
judges, to be put into the ballot box. The returning officer shall 
not open or examine the ballot before putting it into the box.— 
Code, Secs. 1264-1268. 

OATH AND QUALIFICATIONS OF VOTERS. 

If a voter’s right to vote is questioned, the judges, or one 
of them, or the officer holding the election, under the direction 
of a majority of the judges, may administer the following oath ^ 

“You do solemnly swear that you will true answers make 
to such questions as may be asked you touching your qualifica¬ 
tions or right to vote in the present election. So help you God. ’ ’ 
-Code, Sec. 1270. 

The judges or some of them, shall then ask the person offering 
to vote the following questions? 

Are you a citizen of the State of Tennessee? 

Are you twenty-one years of age ? 

Do you reside in this county? 

Has your home been in this county six months next before 
this day (the day of holding election) ? 

Have you voted at any other time or place in this election? 
And any other questions the judges may think material to 
ascertain the qualifications of the person offering to vote. And 
if they, or any one of them, have reason to suspect that the person 


10 


• ELECTIONS. 


offering to vote has sworn falsely, they or the officer, or some 
justice of the peace under their direction, may swear any by¬ 
stander as to the right or qualification of such person to vote.— 
Code, Sec. 1271. 

The said questions having been asked and answered and the 
testimony of the bystanders taken if desired, if the judges, or a 
majority of them, are satisfied that the person offering to vote 
is a citizen of this State, that he is twenty-one years of age, that 
he has had his home in the county in which he offers to vote six 
months next preceding, that he has not voted before at the same 
election, and that he is otherwise qualified, the judges shall 
thereupon receive his Yote.— Code, Sec. 1273. 

The judges must also be satisfied that the voter is a resident 
of the civil district or ward in which he offers to vote, as to 
which matters they may examine him on oath.—Code, Secs. 1168, 
1273. 

If a foreigner offering to vote is objected to, he shall produce 
a certified copy of the record of his naturalization if it be in his 
possession, showing that he has been declared by a competent 
court a citizen of the United States. If the record be not in his 
possession the judges may satisfy themselves from his examina¬ 
tion or other oral testimony that he has been naturalized. The 
judges may likewise examine him on oath if his record of naturali¬ 
zation is objected to as not authentic.— Code, Secs. 1274-1276. 

Any person qualified to vote under existing laws at the date 
of’his application, or who may become qualified by reason of his 
arriving at the age of twenty-one years by the date of the elec¬ 
tion for which the registration is had, or who will be qualified by 
reason of having resided in the State for twelve months and 
county six months by the date of said election shall be entitled 
to be registered as a voter .—Acts 1890, Ch. 25. 

As an additional qualification every person in this State who 
is otherwise a qualified voter shall, as a condition precedent 
to the exercise of voting, furnish to the judges.satisfactory evi¬ 
dence that he has paid his poll tax, if any assessed against him, 
for ft'e year next preceding the election, without which his vote 
sh'^^’ not be received.—Code, Secs. 1220-1225. 

' norson arriving at the age of tvrenty-one years after the 
10th day of January on the year next preceding the election is 
V + 'niired to have paid his poll tax in order to vote in such 


ELECTIONS. 


11 


election. A person who reaches fifty years of age before the 
10th day of January of the year next preceding the election is 
not required to furnish satisfactory evidence of the payment 
of poll tax for that year in order to vote at such elections; other¬ 
wise he must do so. 

Satisfactory evidence that a voter has paid his poll tax shall 
consist of the original poll tax receipt or a duly certified duplicate 
and copy of the same, properly certified by the Trustee, or an 
affidavit that he has paid his poll tax and that the receipt for the 
same is lost or misplaced, which affidavit shall be filed with the 
judges of election, or his name shall appear upon the certified 
list of voters furnished by the Trustee, as provided in Chapter 
402, Acts 1899 .—Ac^5 1891, Ch. 222; Acts 1899, Ch. 402. 

A voter making affidavit as to the loss of his poll tax receipt 
shall subscribe to the following oath: 

State op Tennessee, 

•-County, 


I,-, of precinct (or ward) No.-, in said 

county of-, State aforesaid, do solemnly swear 

(or affirm) that I paid my poll tax on or about the-day of 

-, 190—, to one-, the County Trustee of 

-county, for the year — and took his receipt therefor. 


and that the same has been unintentionally lost or mislaid. 

(Sigued) - 

Code, Sec. 1222. 

LIST OF VOTERS. 

When the officer receives the ballot he shall call the name 
of the voter in a distinct voice, and the clerks of the election 
shall take down on separate lists or books the name of every 
person voting, and shall attest the correctness of them under 
their hands. 

LIST OF VOTERS WHO HAVE PAID THEIR POLL TAXES TO BE FUR¬ 
NISHED BY TRUSTEE. 

Thirty days before any general election the Trustee shall 
furnish to the Chairman of the Board of Election Commissioners 
a certified list of the voters in each voting precinct of the county 
who have paid their poJl tax. This list shall be furnished by 
the Chairman of the Election Commissioners to the judges bold¬ 
ine the election on or before the opening of the polls on election 






12 


ELECTIONS. 


day, and by them returned to the said Chairman, who shall 
deliver same, together with the poll sheets of the respective dis¬ 
tricts, to the County Court Clerk, which shall be preserved by 
said clerk for two years.—1899, Cli. 402. 

COUNTING THE VOTES. 

The officer and judges appointed to hold an election shall 
not proceed to or commence counting the votes given in an 
election until the polls shall have been closed.—CocZe, Sec. 1278. 

When the election is finished the returning officer and judges, 
in the presence of such of the electors as may choose to attend^ 
shall open the box and read aloud the names of the persons which 
shall appear on each ballot, and the clerks at the same time 
shall number the ballots, each clerk separately.— Code, Sec. 1279. 

POLICE. 

The inspectors have authority to maintain regularity and 
order in the balloting, to keep access to the polls free and 
unobstructed, to prevent all disorderly and riotous conduct dur¬ 
ing the election and during the counting of the votes after the 
polls are closed, and for this purpose they are invested with 
all the powers of a peace officer.—(7o(7e, Sec. 1281. 

HOURS. 

In all State and county elections the polls shall be opened 
at 9 a. m. and closed at 4 p. m. — Code, Sec. 1282. 

DUTIES OF OFFICERS HOIDING THE ELECTION. 

The officers in each county whose duty it is to hold the elec¬ 
tion and appoint polling places therein as herein provided for,, 
shall cause the same to be suitably provided with a sufficient 
number of voting shelves or tables at or on which voters may 
conveniently mark their ballots. The number of such voting 
shelves, tables or compartments shall not be less than three for 
every one hundred voters qualified to vote at such polling places. 
No persons other than the election officers and voters admitted 
as hereinafter provided 'shall be permitted within said rail or 
room where the election is held, except by authority of the officer 
holding the election for the purpose of keeping order and enforc¬ 
ing the law. Each voting shelf or compartment shall be kept 


ELECTIONS. 


13 


provided with the proper supplies and conveniences for marking 
the ballots.—CocZe, Sec. 1245. 

No person shall be allowed in the room in which said ballot 
box and compartments are except the officers of election and 
those appointed by the officer holding the election, and none 
others, to secure the observance of the provisions of this article. 
In the case of cities having duly enrolled policemen or police 
officers, the city authorities may designate the officers to keep 
the peace at the polls on the outside of the room in which is the 
ballot box, and not closer than ten feet to the entrance or outer 
rail-guard, if there be such, leading to said room. But in no 
event shall said policemen or peace officers come nearer to said 
entrance than ten feet or enter the room in which is the ballot 
box, unless specifically requested to do so by the sheriff or deputy 
sheriff holding the election; and at any time when requested to 
do so by said officer holding the election, the said policeman or 
policemen shall retire from the room in which is the ballot box, 
and to a point not in orer ihan ten feet to the aforesaid entraiiCv* 
or rail guard.—Code, Sec. 1252. 

THE POLL BOOKS. 

It shall be the duty of the officer holding the election to 
or lists of th enames of voters, kept by the respective clerks; 
and said judges, or a majority of them, shall certify that the 
same do contain a true list of the voters at the respective places 
of holding elections, which certificates shall be attested by the 
clerk and officer, or person holding the election.— Code, Sec. 1287. 
box, unlese specally requested to do so by the sheriff or .deputy 

It shall be unlawful for any person or persons, except the 
officers holding the election, to approach nearer to any voter 
or to any ballot box than thirty feet, when the said voter is 
in the act of casting his ballot or offering or proposing to 
exercise the elective franchise. The judges and officers of 
any and all legal elections are hereby authorized and empowered 
to construct a railing or double gangway through which voters 
may approach the ballot box and retire therefrom; Provided, 
that this shall onl yapply to counties o fthirty thousand inhabit¬ 
ants or over, under the Federal Census of 1900, or any subsequent 
Federal Census.-Hc^s 1901, Ch. 142. 

Any voter who declares to' the officer holding the election 


14 


ELECTIONS. 


that by reason of blindness or other physical disability he is 
unable to mark his ballot, shall, upon request, receive the assist¬ 
ance of the officer holding the election in the marking thereof, 
and such officer shall certify on the outside that it was so marked 
with his assistance, and shall give no information in regard to 
the same.—Code, Sec. 1254. 

JUDGES AND ATTORNEYS GENERAL AND REPRESENTATIVES IN 

CONGRESS. 

Within five days O'f an election the said Commissioners shall 
make out triplicate returns of the number of votes received by 
each candidate for Judge and Attorney for the State and Repre¬ 
sentatives in Congress, and forward one copy by mail to the 
Secretary of State, another copy by a different mail to the Gov¬ 
ernor, and deposit the third copy in the office of the County 
Court Clerk.-Code, Secs. 1152, 1299; Acts 1897, Gh. 16. 

GOVERNOR'S ELECTION. 

The Commissioners of Registration and Election Commission¬ 
ers of the several counties shall make out triplicate returns 
of the votes cast in each county for Governor, one copy to be 
directed to the Speaker of the Senate and transmitted by mail, 
one copy, similarly directed, to be delivered to the Senator or 
Representative of his district, the third to be deposited in the 
office of the County Court Clerk.—Code, Sec. 1303; Acts 1897, 
Ch. 16. 

GENERAL ASSEMBLY—ELECTION OP. 

In counties which singly elect one or more Representatives, 
the poll shall be compared at the court house in each county; 
and in all Senatorial and Representative districts it shall be the 
duty of the Commissioners of Registration in each county, within 
ten days after said election, to certify and forward to the Secre¬ 
tary of State one copy, or set, of the poll books.—Code, Sec. 1284; 
Acts 1897, Cli. 16. 

CERTIFICATE OP ELECTION. 

The certificate of election in Senatorial or Ploterial districts 
is issued by the Governor; in counties singly electing a Represen¬ 
tative it is issued to the person receiving the highest vote by the 
Commissioners of Registration, who shall make out and transmit 
immediately to the Secretary of State a statement of the \'ote.— 
Code, Secs. 1280-1298; Acts 1897, Ch. 16. 


ELECTIONS. 


15 


RETURNS—WHEN MADE. 

In all cases when the persons, elected by a single county 
or fraction of a county, are commissioned by the Grovernor 
the Commissioners of Registration of such county shall make 
return of such election to the Secretary of State by mail, to 
be deposited in the postoffice within three days after comparing 
the polls. In all other cases of persons elected by the vote of a 
single county or district thereof, the said Commissioners shall 
make return of the election to the tribunal before whom the 
officer is required to qualify.— Code, Secs. 1295-1297. 

RETURNS—HOW MADE. 

Returns of election shall be sealed up and directed to the 
officer to whom the return is to be made, and when required 
to be sent by mail shall be deposited in the postoffice and the 
receipt of the postmaster taken therefor.— Code, Sec. 1306. 

ELECTORS FOR PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT. 

Commissioners of Registration shall advertise at the court 
house in every county, and in every civil district of the county, 
the day on which the election of electors shall take place, at least 
sixty days before the time of holding it—Code, Sec. 1353; Acts 
1897, Ch. 16. 

The Commissioners of Registration aforesaid shall all meet - 
at the court house of their county on the day immediately suc¬ 
ceeding said election, and compare the votes polled for electors. 

They shall make out triplicate statements of the number 
of votes received by each person voted for as elector, and regu¬ 
larly certify the same. They shall deposit one of said state¬ 
ments in the office of the Clerk of the County Court, taking 
his receipt therefor; another in the postoffice at the court house 
of the county, directed to the Governor and Secretary of State, 
and direct the other in the same way by the next mail, and take 
the postmaster’s receipt for the same; or said Commissioners 
may in person deliver said statement to the Governor and Secre¬ 
tary of State.— Code, Secs. 1358-1360; Acts 1897, Ch. 16. 

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS—RETURNS, HOW. MADE. 

On the day succeeding an election for members of Congress, 
the Commissioners of Registration and Election Commissioners 
in each county shall make out triplicate returns of the number 


16 


ELECTIONS. 


of votes for each candidate, one of which they shall retain, 
and the other two shall be sent, in different mails, immediately 
thereafter, to the Governor.—Code, Sec. 1371; Acts 1897, Ch. 16. 

SCHOOL DIRECTORS. 

The Commissioners of Registration and Election Commission¬ 
ers holding an election for School Director's shall certify the 
result to the County Superintendent and to the County Court 
Clerk, and shall give notice of the same to the Directors elected. 
-Code, Sec. 1420. 

CASTING VOTE. 

In case of a tie vote between persons having the highest num¬ 
ber of votes for an office filled by the vote of a single county, 
the Commissioners of Registration shall give the casting vote.— 
Code, Sec. 1292. 

In case of a tie vote in an election in a civil district the 
election is void, and the Commissioners of Registration shall 
advertise and hold a new election.—Code, Sec. 1293. 

EXTRAORDINARY ELECTIONS. 

MUNICIPALITIES. 

For method of holding election to establish a new municipality 
see Code Secs. 1881-1898. See- also special form of municipal 
government provided by Acts 1901, Ch. 64. 

For method of electing officers of same, see Code, Secs. 1948- 
1952. 

NEW BRIDGES. 

For regulations for holding an election to establish a new 
bridge, see Code, Sec. 1716. 

ROAD IMPROVEMENT. 

For regulations for holding an election to improve county 
roads, 'see Code, Secs. 1689-1691. 

NEW RAILROADS —COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL SUBSCRIPTION FOR 

STOCK IN. 

The election shall be advertised at least thirty days before¬ 
hand, by notices posted up at the different places of voting, 
specifying the time when it is to be held, for what road, the 


ELECTIONS. 


17 


amount of stock proposed to be taken, and when payable.—Code, 
Secs. 1543-1564. 

The Commissioners of Registration shall open and hold an 
election at every voting place established by law in such county, 
city, or town, and their certificate of the result of said election 
to the County Court, or other proper authorities of such city 
or town shall name in writing every legally established voting- 
place at which an election was opened and held, and every one 
at which such election was not held.— Code, Secs. 1544-1565. 

If the election was not held at every voting place, it shall 
be void, unless the officers holding the election, or deputy, was 
present at said precinct and was unable to hold the election for 
want of judges and clerks sufficient to hold it —Code, Secs. 1545- 
1565. 


LEGALIZED PRIMARY ELECTION LAW. 

A primary election is an election held within the State, county, 
city, district or sub-division thereof, as the case may be, by 
the members of any political party, or by the voters of some 
political faith for the purpose of nominating a candidate or 
candidates for office. Such primary elections shall be held and 
conducted in the same way as regular State elections, except as 
herein excepted. Whenever the committee or governing authori¬ 
ties of any political party desire to hold a primary election under 
the provisions of this law, they shall, at least thirty days prior 
to such primary election give public notice thereof by posting 
such notice at the court house door and at one or more public 
places in each ward or district in the county in which such 
election is to be held, or by publication in a newspaper, if 
there be one published in said district or county, once a week 
for at least two weeks prior to said primary. Such notice 
shall state the date of such proposed primary election, the hours 
between which it will be held, the offices for which candidates 
are to be nominated, and the places at which polls are to be opened 
for holding such election. All legal voters shall have the right 
to participate in such primary election, subject to such addi¬ 
tional qualifications as may be prescribed by the committee or 
governing authority. In all counties, districts, wards or precincts 
all legal electors or persons who will be legal electors at the 


18 


ELECTIONS. 


regular election at which the candidate is to be voted for, shall 
have the right to vote at any primary election held by any 
political party if they conform to the requirements prescribed 
by the committee or governing authority of the political party 
holding such primary, by applying at the polls at the precincts 
in which they reside and making known the fact that they will 
conform to such conditions and qualifications a‘s have been so 
prescribed. In case the officers of such primary election be in 
doubt as to the right of any person to vote, such person shall 
be sworn by the judges of election and examined as to such right. 
Any bystander may also challenge the right of any person to 
vote, and in all such cases such person so challenged shall be 
sworn and examined as hereinbefore set forth. The same number 
of officers shall hold a primary election under the provisions 
hereof as are required and designated by law to hold regular 
State elections, and their duties and responsibilities shall be pre¬ 
cisely the same as the regularly qualified officers of State elec¬ 
tions. They shall be appointed by the regularly organized 
and constituted committee or governing authority of the political 
party holding such primary election and shall as a preliminary 
to the discharge of their duties take the same oath required 
to be taken by officers of regular State elections. The officers 
in each primary election, precinct, ward, or district shall be 
selected from lists furnished by the ward or district committee¬ 
men at least ten days before such primary election, and shall 
be as nearly equally divided as possible as to judges, clerks and 
officers among the various candidates. 

The officers of all primary elections held under the provisions 
hereof shall have the same power and privileges as officers of 
regular State elections, and shall be subject to the same restric¬ 
tions, limitations and conditions. Any act which would be an 
offense against the regular State election laws will constitute 
an offense against the primary election laws, and shall be 
punished in the same manner as is prescribed by general law. 
Any person desiring to submit his name to the voters in a 
primary election shall, not later than fifteen days next preceding 
the holding of such primary election, apprise the committee 
or governing authority of the political party holding such 
primary of the fact that he is a candidate, and upon complying 
with the conditions prescribed by the committee or governing 


ELECTIONS. 


19 


authority for the regulation of candidates shall be declared 
to be a candidate by the committee or governing authority of 
such political party; any person failing to give such notice to the 
proper authorities or who fails to comply with the conditions 
prescribed for the government of candidates shall not have 
his name printed on the ballots used in said primary elections; 
but any person desiring to vote for another than the persons 
whose names are printed on such ballots shall have the right 
to’ do so by writing the name of the person for whom he desires 
to vote in the space on the ballot set apart for the names of 
the candidates for such office as he may desire such person so 
voted for to hold. 

The election returns in all primary elections shall be deposited 
with the committee or governing authority of' the political 
party under whose direction and control such primary election 
is held within the ‘same time as is provided by law in The case 
of State elections and in the same manner, and at such place 
as the committee or governing authority shall designate. Any 
person changing or in any wise altering such election returns 
shall be subject to the same punishment as is prescribed for 
persons violating the regular State election laws. 

The constituted committee or governing authority of a* politi¬ 
cal party holding such primary election is authorized to count 
the votes in such primary election and to declare the candidate 
receiving the highest number of votes the nominee of such 
political party for the office for which he was a candidate. In 
cases of a tie vote or contest the. committee or governing authori¬ 
ty are empowered to hear and determine such contests and decide 
who shall be entitled to the nomination. In case there are 
more than two candidates seeking the nomination in such pri¬ 
mary and no one candidate receives a majority of the vote cast 
at said primary election, then the committee or governing author¬ 
ity of the political party holding the election can, if it sees fit, 
order for the two candidates receiving the highest number 
of votes a run offi to determine the party candidate, for the 
said office; Provided, however, if this section of the law is to be 
taken advantage of it must be made known when the primary 
election is called. The proper proceedings in such cases shall 
be determined by the committee or governing authority. Before 
entering upon the discharge of their duty as set forth in this 
Act, the committee or governing authority shall be sworn by 


20 


ELECTIONS, 


some officer authorized by law to administer an oath to faithfully 
and honestly discharge the duties herein imposed, ^nd the failure 
on the part of any member of the committee or governing authori¬ 
ty to so discharge their duty shall be deemed a misdemeanor, 
punishable upon indictment and conviction in the Circuit or 
Criminal Court in the county or district by a line of not less 
than one hundred dollars nor more than live hundred dollars and 
imprisonment in the county jail not less than sixty days nor more 
than one year. 

All expenses for holding such primary election shall be 
borne by the political party conducting the same. The ballots 
used in such primary election shall be printed by order of the 
committee or governing authority having direction and control 
of such primaries under the same restrictions and limitations 
as is provided by general law for the printing of ballots used 
in regular State elections. This Act shall apply to all primary 
elections held for the purpose of nominating candidates for 
State, county, district, or municipal offices hereafter held in 
this State. 

Each of the candidates voted for at any election held under 
the provisions of this Act shall be entitled to an inspector of 
count, and for that purpose may appoint in writing such inspector 
to be present and witness the casting and count of the ballots 
in said election, and said inspector shall have free access to 
the polling places during the progress of said election; Provided, 
if there be more than five and less than ten candidates, any two 
of said candidates shall jointly appoint one inspector, and for 
all over twenty, then any five of said candidates shall jointly 
appoint said inspector. It shall be the duty of the judges 
on the close of the polls to admit to the count of the vote as 
inspector any person as herein provided. Any person presenting 
to the judges of said election an appointment in writing of any 
candidate or candidates at the close of the polls as aforesaid, 
shall be permitted to be present to witness the count of the 
ballots, and any officer of election who shall prevent such 
authorized inspector from being present at the count of the 
ballot shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine 
of not less than one hundred nor more than five hundred dollars. 

The constituted authority of the political party holding such 
election shall designate in the public notice required to be given 


ELECTIONS. 


21 


of said election the hours between which such election shall be 
held; Provided, no election shall be held before the hour of 7 a. 
m., and not later than 9 p. m. 

A poll tax receipt is not a necessary prerequisite to entitle a 
citizen to vote in such primary election. 

The provisions of the general law requiring saloons to be 
closed during the day of election shall only apply during the 
hours of said primary election.—Acifs 1901, Ch. 39. 

AMENDMENT OF 1901 PRIMARY ELECTION LAW. 

SeNxVte Bill No. 470. 

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act entitled, ‘‘An 

Act to legalize and regulate primary elections,” passed April 

11, 1901, and approved April 17, 1901, being Chapter 39 of 

the Acts of 1901. 

Section 1. Be it enacted hy the General Assembly of the 
State of Tennessee, That said Act be amended by striking out 
Section 11 of said Act and inserting in lieu thereof the following: 

That all expenses for holding such primary election shall 
be borne by the political party holding same, and the cost of 
publishing and circulating notices of elections, and all other 
expenses, including all expenses incurred by reason of any sup¬ 
plemental registration that may be ordered, shall be defrayed 
in such manner as may be provided by the committee, or govern¬ 
ing authority of the political party holding such primaries. The 
ballots used in such primary election shall be printed by order 
of the committee or governing authority having direction and 
control of such primaries, under the same restrictions and limita¬ 
tions as is provided by general law for the printing of ballots 
used in regular State elections.—(77i. 39, Acts 1903. 

ACT CREATING STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS. 

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the 
State of Terinessee, That there shall be appointed by the Governor 
and confirmed by the Senate a Board of three persons, to be 
known as the “State Board of Elections,” which shall have and 
exercise all powers now conferred upon the Governor to appoint 
Commissioners of Elections and Registration. 


22 


ELECTIONS. 


Sec. 2. Be it further enacted. That not more than two 
of the three members of the State Board of Elections shall be 
of the same political party and that both the representatives of 
the majority and minority parties shall be bona fide members 
of the party they are appointed to represent, and any two mem¬ 
bers of said Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction 
of business. 

Sec. 3. Be it further enacted, That the members of the first 
State Board of Elections 'shall be appointed as soon after the 
passage of this law as practicable, and on the first Monday in 
March every two years thereafter. 

Sec. 4. Be it further enacted, That the members of said 
State Board of Elections first appointed shall hold office until 
the first Monday in March, 1909, and thereafter the members 
of said State Board of Elections shall hold office for two years, 
and until their successors are appointed, and all vacancies shall 
be filled as in the first instance, except vacancies occurring whi! v 
the Legislature is not in session, when the appointment shall be 
made by the Governor to hold until the convening of the Leg. 
islature. 

Sec. 5. Be it further enacted, That the members of said 
State Board of Elections shall receive as compensation three 
hundred dollars ($300) per annum each, payable quarterly, and 
the members of said State Board of Elections shall take and sub¬ 
scribe to an oath before any State officer authorized to admin¬ 
ister oaths to discharge faithfully and honestly the duties of 
their office, which oaths so taken and subscribed shall be filed 
in the office of the Secretary of State, and it shall be the duty 
of the members of said State Board of Elections to qualify within 
ten days after their appointment and organize by the selection 
of one of their number as President and another of their number 
as Secretary; and the failure on the part of any member of said 
State Board of Elections to qualify as above provided shall in 
all cases vacate the appointment of such member. 

Sec. 6 . Be it further enacted, That the said State Board 
of Elections shall be allowed the sum of two hundred and fifty 
dollars ($250) per annum for stationery, postage, and expenses 
incidental to the conducting of the business of said Board, which 
shall be payable upon voucher or vouchers signed by the Secre¬ 
tary and countersigned by the President of the State* Board of 
Elections. 


ELECTIONS. 


23 


Sec. 7. Be it further enacted, That all meetings of said 
State Board of Elections shall be held at the State Capitol, in 
Nashville, in such room as may be provided for their use by the 
Superintendent of the Capitol, and that no meeting except for 
organization and an adjourned meeting for the appointment 
of Commissioners of Election shall be held except upon five 
days’ written notice to each member of said State Board of 
Elections; but meetings may be called at any time by the Presi¬ 
dent or by any two members ; Provided,, s, requisite notice as 
hereinbefore required shall be given. 

Sec. 8. Be it further enacted. That said State Board of 
Elections shall select and appoint on the second Monday in May, 
1907, or as soon thereafter as practicable, and on the second Mon¬ 
day in May every two years thereafter three Commissioners of 
Election for each county in the State; Provided, that not more 
than two of said Commissioners shall be of the same political 
party; and. Provided, further, that the State Board of Elec¬ 
tions shall have the power to remove any Commissioner of 
Election for cause or failure to perform his duties; and said 
State Board of Elections shall likewise fill by appointment ah 
vacancies occurring in the County Board of Commissioners of 
Election. 

Sec. 9. Be it further enacted. That said State Board of 
Elections shall issue commissions of appointment to the various 
Commissioners of Election, which commissions shall be signed by 
the President and countersigned by the Secretary of said State 
Board of Elections, and a record be kept by said State Board of 
Elections of all commissions So issued, with the full names of 
said Commissioners of Election, their postoffice addresses, the 
name of the Chairmen and Secretaries of said Commissioners 
on each county, the dates of their appointment, and their politi¬ 
cal affiliation, and the records of all vacancies; and the oaths 
subscribed by said Commissioners of Election shall likewise 
be kept in the records of said State Board of Elections. 

Sec. 10. Be it further enacted, That said State Board of 
Elections shall cause to be compiled and kept among their records 
a complete list of all counties, towns, cities, and civil districts 
within the State which are now or may hereafter be under the 
State laws pertaining to the registration of voters, and of all 
counties, towns, cities, and civil districts where the uniform 
Au’stralian ballot is now or may hereafter by law be in use in 


24 


ELECTIONS. 


the State, and also shall cause to be compiled a list of all counties 
towns, cities, and civil districts where the three-by-seven ballot 
is now or may hereafter be in use under the law. 

Sec. 11. Be it further enacted, That all laws or parts of 
laws in conflict herewith are hereby repealed. 

Sec. 12. Be it further enacted, That this Act take effect from 
and after its passage, the public welfare requiring it. 

Ch. 435, Acts 1907. 

ACT CREATING COMMISSIONERS OP ELECTIONS. 

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the 
State of Tefinessee, That for and in each and every county in 
the State there shall be appointed by the State Board of Elec¬ 
tions a board of three persons, to be known as ' ‘ Commissioners of 
Elections.” 

Sec. 2. Be it further enacted. That all the three Commis¬ 
sioners shall be qualified voters of the county for which they are 
appointed and men of approved character, and shall have been 
residents of the county, for which they are appointed for at 
least five years before their appointment. 

Sec. 3. Be it further enacted. That not more than two of 
the three Commissioners constituting the Board shall be of the 
same political party; Provided, however,.that any two of said 
Commissioners shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of 
business. 

Sec. 4. Be it further enacted. That the said Commissioners 
of Elections shall be appointed on the second Monday in May, 
1907, or as soon thereafter as practicable, and on the second 
Monday in May every two years thereafter. 

Sec. 5. Be it further enacted, That said Commissioners shall 
hold their office for a term of two years, and until their successors 
are appointed, and any vacancy shall be filled by the State Board 
of Elections by appointment. 

Sec. 6. Be it further enacted. That said Commissioners of 
Elections shall serve without compensation; Provided, however, 
that the County Court of each county shall have the right to 
appropriate out of the county revenue such amount, if any, as it 
deems said Commissioners of Elections are entitled to. 

Sec. 7. Be it further enacted. That before entering upon 


ELECTIONS. 


25 


the duties of their office said Commissioners of Elections shall 
take and subscribe to an oath before any officer authorized to 
administer oaths in the county for which said Commissioners are 
appointed to discharge faithfully and honestly the duties of 
their office; and it shall be the duty of said Commis'sioners of 
Elections to qualify within twenty days after their appointment 
and organize by the selection of one of their number as Chairman 
and one of their number of Secretary. 

Sec. 8. Be it further enacted, That a failure on the part 
■of any Commissioner of Elections to qualify as above provided 
shall in all cases vacate the appointment of such Commissioner, 
and that the oath of the Commissioner duly dated iiiha.ll be filed 
with the Secretary of the State Board of Elections within twenty 
days after their qualification, together with a report of their 
•organization, the names of the officers, and the names, postoffice 
addresses, etc., of Elections. 

Said Commissioners of Elections shall give prompt notice to 
aaid State Board of Elections of all vacancies. 

Sec. 9. Be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of 
said Commissioners of Elections within sixty days prior to any 
election held within the county for which they are appointed, 
and at least ten days prior to any such election, to appoint and 
announce the appointment of three Judges, for each and every 
voting place in their county to superintend the election at the 
precinct or voting place for which said Judge shall be appointed; 
Provided, however, that all three of the Judges shall not be of 
the same political party, if persons from different political 
parties are willing to serve, and they shall be appointed from the 
two political parties most numerously represented in such ward, 
district, or precinct. 

Sec. 10. Be it further enacted. That said Commissioners of 
Elections shall also within sixty days and at least ten days prior 
to any election within the county for which they are appointed 
appoint and announce the appointment of two Clerks of election 
for each and every voting place in their county; Provided, 
that said Clerks shall be of different political parties. If compe¬ 
tent persons of different political parties are willing to serve, 
they shall be appointed from the two political parties most 
numerously represented in such ward, district, or precinct. 

Sec. 11. Be it further enacted. That the said Commissioners 


26 


ELECTIONS. 


of Elections within sixty days and at least ten days prior to any 
election within the county for which they are appointed shall 
appoint and announce the appointment of an officer of election 
for each voting place in such county. 

Sec. 12. Be it further enacted. That the Commissioners of 
Elections in appointing Judges and Clerks in all elections shall 
give bona fide representation to each of the two parties most 
numerously represented in the ward, district, or precinct for 
which they are appointed. 

Sec. 13. Be it further enacted, That the Judges, Clerks 
and officers of election shall be residents and citizens of the ward 
or district or precinct in which the voting place for which they 
are appointed is situated. 

Sec. 14. Be it further enacted. That whenever for any rea¬ 
son any Judge or Clerk or officer of election so appointed fails 
to attend promptly, and by reason of his absence at the hour of 
holding the election other persons shall be selected to fill such 
vacancies by a majority of the election officers duly appointed 
and attending, and the election officers so elected to fill vacancies 
shall be residents and citizens of the ward, district, or precinct 
for which they are appointed, and shall act only until the regu¬ 
larly appointed Judge or Clerk or officer of election in whose 
stead he was appointed appears and demands that he be permitted 
to serve, and the person so elected to fill the vacancy shall cease 
to act; and. Provided, that any such person so elected to fill a 
vacancy shall be of the same political party as the person in 
whose stead he is selected to serve. 

Sec. 15. Be it further enacted. That it shall be the duty 
of the officer holding the election to deliver the polls or returns 
of the election sealed as received, together with the ballots cast 
in said election, to the said Commissioners of Elections not later 
than 12 o’clock noon on the first Monday after the election. 

Sec. 16. Be it further enacted. That on the first Monday 
after the election it shall be the duty of the Commissioners of 
Elections to file the said polls and returns at the court house and 
to certify in writing, signed by at least two of them, the result 
as shown by said polls or returns, and to deliver to each person 
elected a certificate of his election. 

Sec. 17. Be it further enacted, That the said Commissioners 
of Elections shall cause a true copy of all the poll books or 


ELECTIONS. 


27 


poll lists used at ot in any election to be made out, and, when 
completed, they shall file the same with the Clerk of the County 
Court, to be preserved by him as records for a period of four 
years, and the original poll books or poll lists used at or in any 
election shall be safely, and securely kept by the Commissioners 
of Elections, and without alteration shall be sealed and for¬ 
warded to the Secretary of State at Nashville, Tenn., within ten 
days after the election. 

Sec. 18. Be it farther enacted, That said Commissioners of 
Elections shall employ a Clerk or copyist to make out the copy 
of said poll books or poll lists for the County Court Clerk, and 
said Clerk or copyist shall receive as compensation twenty cents 
for every hundred names on the poll list, which shall be paid 
as part of the expense of the election as Judges and Clerks of 
elections are now paid. 

Sec. 19. Be it further enacted, That in all and every of the 
counties of the State within the provisions of the registration 
laws of ll'; State the Commissioners of Elections shall perform 
the duties of Commissioners of Registration. 

Sec. 20. Be it further enacted. That all laws or parts of 
laws in conflict herewith are hereby repealed. 

Sec. 21. Be it further enacted. That this Act take effect from 
and after its passage, the public welfare requiring it.— Ch. 436, 
Acts 1907. 

AN ACT CREATING ADDITIONAL REGISTRARS. 

Section 1. B eit enacted hy the General Assembly of the 
State of Temiessee, That Chapter 25, of the Acts of the extra 
session of the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee for the 
year 1890, being an Act approved March 13, 1890, and entitled 
‘ ‘ An Act to provide for the registration of voters in this State in 
counties having a population of seventy thousand inhabitants or 
over that'number, computed by the Federal Census of 1880, or 
which may hereafter have that number or over ,computed by any 
subsequent Federal Census, and to towns, cities, or civil districtes 
having a population of twenty-five thousand inhabitants or over, 
computed by the Federal Census of 1880, or which may hereafter 
have that number or over that number by any Federal Census, ^ ^ 
be, and the same is hereby, amended so the following words shall 
be added to and appear at the end of Section 3 of said original 


28 


ELECTIONS. 


Act—to-wit: Provided, further, that whenever two or more Civil 
Districts have been consolidated into one Civil District or the 
parts of one or more Civil Districts added to another Civil Dis¬ 
trict, or where a Civil District lies partly within and partly 
without an incorporated town, city, or taxing district, and such 
part thereof as is not divided into wards may be divided and 
designated into as many ‘'registration and voting divisions” of 
Civil Districts by the Commissioners of Registration a smay be 
necessary for the convenience and accessibility of the voters of 
such Civil istricts for the registration and voting of such voters 
as reside in said “registration and voting divisions” of Civil 
istricts, who shall be furnished books, stationery, register the 
voters residing in said registration and voting divisions of Civil 
Distrcts, and do all things provided by law to be done as regis- 
istrars. When the registration and voting divisions have been 
defined, they shall not be altered except upon a petition sifined by 
fifty days’ notice published once a week for four weeks in some 
daily or weekly paper having a general circulation in the county 
and also posted at the court house door for thirty days, setting 
forth the proposed changes. 

Sec. 2. Be it further enacted. That this Act take effect from 
and after its passage, the public welfare requiring ii.—Ch. 256, 
Acts 1905. 

AN ACT LEGALIZING AND REGULATING PRIMARY 
ELECTIONS. 

Section 1. Be it encted by the General Assembly of the 
State of Tennessee, Thas Section 1, of Chapter 39, of the Acts of 
1901, be, and the same is hereby, amended by adding to aforesaid 
section: and Ward Committeemen and District Committeemen; 
Provided, that one poll list shall be returned to County Court 
Clerk, the other to the Chairman of the Governing Committee. 

Sec. 2. Be it further enacted. That this Ac ttake effect from 
and after its passage, the public welfare requiring it—Ch. 353, 
Acts 1905. 

Gov. M. R. Patterson appointed E. R. Richardson, of David¬ 
son, and N. G. Robertson, of Wilson, Democrats, and T. A. 
Raht, of Coffee, Republican, State Board of Elections, to serve 
until March, 1909, and said appointments were confirmed by 
Senate. 


ELECTIONS. 


29 


E. R. Richardson was elected Chairman and N. G. Robertson 
Secretary. 

TO PREVENT CORRUPTION IN ELECTIONS. 

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Asse'tnltly of the 
State of Tennessee, That it shall be unlawful for any person, 
either a candidate or any other person, directly or indirectly, 
by himself or through any other person. 

(a) To pay, loan, or contribute, or offer or promise to pay, 
loan, or contribute any money, property, or any other valuable 
consideration or thing to or for any voter, or to or for any other 
person to induce such voter or any voter to vote or refrain from 
voting in or at any political convention, mass meeting, or mass 
political convention, or assemblage,^ primary or party election or 
any kind or character held or sought to be held by the people or a 
part of them or any political party or organization whatever, 
or to induce any voter or voters to vote or refrain from voting at 
any such convention, mass meeting, mass convention, or assem¬ 
blage, or primary or party election for or against any particular 
person or persons, measure or measure’s, or to induce any voter or 
other person to attend, leave, or remain away from any such 
convention, mass meeting, mass convention, or assemblage, or tbe 
polls at any such primary or party election, or on account of any 
voter having voted for or against or refrained from voting for or 
against any particular person or persons, measure or mea'sures, or 
having gone to, attended, or remained away from any such 
convention, mass meetings, mass conventions, or assemblages, 
primary or party election. 

(b) To give, otfer, or promise any office, place, or employ¬ 
ment, or to promise or procure or endeavor or promise to endeavor 
or procure any office, place, or employment to or for any voter or 
to or for any other person in order to induce such or any voter to 
vote or refrain from voting for any particular person or persons, 
measure or measures, at any such convention, mass meeting, 
assemblage, primary or party election, or to attend, leave, or 
remain away from any such convention, mass meeting, mass con¬ 
vention, assemblage, primary or party election. 

(c) To advance or pay or cause to be paid any money or 
other valuable thing to or for the use of any person, with 


30 


ELECTIONS. 


the intent that the same or any part thereof shall be used 
unlawfully, at or concerning or in connection with any such 
convention, mass convention, mass meeting, assemblage, or pri¬ 
mary or party election, or to pay or to cause to be paid any 
money or other valuable thing in discharge or repayment of any 
money or valuable consideration wholly or in part expended, 
directly or indirectly, unlawfully, at, touching, or in connection 
with any such convention, mass meeting, mass convention, assem¬ 
blage, primary or party election. 

(d) To advance or pay or cause to be paid as expenses or 
otherwise to or for the use of any person any money or valuable 
thing to induce such person or any person to work for, solicit, or 
seek to influence votes or influences for or against any person 
or persons, measure or measures, at, concerning, or in connection 
with any such convention, mass meeting, mass convention, pri¬ 
mary or party election, or to induce such person or any person 
to work to procure, solicit, or influence any voter or voters to 
attend, leave, or remain away from any such convention, mass 
meeting, mass convention, assemblage, party or primary election. 
Or to pay or to cause to be paid any money or other valuable 
thing to or for the use and benefit of any person in discharge 
or payment of or for time, labor, expenses, or services alleged 
to have been spent, performed, incurred, or rendered for or 
against any person or persons at, touching, or in connection with 
any such convention, mass meeting, mass convention, assem¬ 
blage, party or primary election. 

Provided, this shall not include the payment of expenses of 
any one for soliciting the attendance of any person or persons 
upon party conventions or party primaries. 

(e) For any officer of any convention, mass convention, 
mass meeting, primary election or party election or other person 
to willfully cast the vote of any person voting for some person or 
measure different from that person or measure sought to be voted 
for by the person voting, or to falsely cast such vote in any way 
or to insert a ballot for one person or measure in a ballot box 
when the person voting sought to vote for another person or 
measure, or to change, falsify, or tamper with the returns of any 
primary or party election. 

Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That it shall be unlawful for* 
any person, directly or indirectly, by himself or through any 
person: 


ELECTIONS. 


31 


(a) To receive, agree to receive, or contract for before or 
during any such convention, mass meeting, mass convention, party 
or primary election as set out in Section 1 of this Act any money, 
gift, loan or other valuable thing, office, place, or employment 
for himself or any other person for voting or agreeing to vote, 
for going or agreeing to go to, or for remaining or agreeing to 
remain away, or refraining or agreeing to refrain from voting 
or for voting or agreeing to vote, or refraining or agreeing to 
refrain from voting for any particular person or persons, measure 
or measures, at, concerning, or in connection with any such con- 
* ontion, mass convention, mass meeting, assemblage, party or 
primary election. 

(b) To receive any money or other valuable thing, gift, 
loan, office, place, or employment for himself or any other person 
for voting or refraining from voting for or against any particu¬ 
lar person or persons, measure or measures, or on account of 
himself or any other person for going to or remaining away 
from, or on account of having, induced any person to vote or 
refrain from voting, or to vote or refrain from voting for or 
against any particular person or persons, measure or measures, at 
or in connection with any such convention, mass convention, mass 
meeting, assemblage, or primary or party election. 

Sec. 3. Be it further enacted, That a person offending 
against any of the provisions of Sections 1 and 2 of this Act 
shall be a competent witness against any other person violating 
any provisions of this Act, and may be compelled to attend and 
testify upon any trial, hearing, proceeding, or investigation in 
the same manner as any other person, but the testimony so given 
shall not be used in any prosecution or proceeding, civil or 
criminal, against the person so testifying, except for perjury in 
giving such testimony, and a person so testifying shall not there¬ 
after be liable to indictment, prosecution, or punishment for the 
offense with reference to which his testimony was given, and may 
plead or prove the giving of said testimony accordingly in bar 
of such an indictment or prosecution. 

Sec. 4. Be it further enacted, That any person convicted of 
the offenses mentioned in Section 1 of this Act shall be fined not 
less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than one thou¬ 
sand dollars ($1,000) and be imprisoned in the county jail not 
less than six nor more than twelve months, be disfranchised, and 


32 


ELECTIONS. 


rendered ineligible from bolding any office under the laws of 
Tennessee, or in any county, municipality, division, or district 
therein. 

Sec. 5. Be it fwTher enacted, That any person convicted 
of any of the offenses mentioned in Section 2 of this Act shall 
be fined not less than fifty ($50) nor more than one hundred 
dollars ($100) or be imprisoned in the county jail not more 
than six months, or both, at the discretion of the court. 

Sec. 6 . Be it further' enacted, That all fines collected under 
the provisions of this Act shall be turned into the school fund. 

Sec. 7. Be it further enacted, That any corporation offend¬ 
ing against the provisions of this Act may be found guilty, and 
it and its officers through whom such offense was committed 
shall be fined and the officers imprisoned as other persons under 
the provisions hereof. 

Sec. 8. Be it further enacted. That no defect or irregularity 
in calling such convention, mass conyention, mass meeting, 
assemblage, party election or primary election, nor any irregulari¬ 
ty in the proceedings thereof shall be available as a defense 
under the provisions of this Act. 

Sec. 9. Be it further enacted. That nothing herein shall 
be construed to prevent a candidate or any public or political 
organization or any person or persons from employing and 
maintaining a proper clerical or office force so employed and 
maintained in good faith, nor to prevent public and political 
parties, associations, candidates, and organizations from dis¬ 
seminating literature and defraying the expenses of public 
speakers nor from announcing any candidacy in any newspaper. 

Sec. 10. Be it further enacted. That the Circuit and Crimi¬ 
nal Judges of Tennessee shall give this Act in charge to the grand 
juries in the various counties of this State, and the grand juries 
shall have inquisitorial power over all the offenses embraced in 
this Act; Provided, further, that nothing in this Act shall be 
construed to prohibit the sending of conveyances for voters who 
may be sick or otherwise physically unable to go to the polls. 

Sec. 11. Be it further enacted, That this Act take effect 
from and after its passage, the public welfare requiring it.— Ch. 
402, Acts 1907. 


ELECTIONS, 


33 


ACT TO LEGALIZE PRIMARY ELECTIONS. 

Section 1, Be it enacted hy the General Assembly of the 
State of Tennessee, That all laws now in force and applicable to 
the holding of general elections in this State in counties having a 
population of 90,000 or over by the Federal census of 1890 shall 
hereafter apply and govern in all primary elections by political 
parties in counties having a population of not less than 110,000 
and not more than 130,000 inhabitants by the Federal census 
of 1900 or which may hereafter have that number by any subse¬ 
quent Federal census, except as hereinafter provided; Provided, 
further, that saloons ‘shall only be required to be closed during 
the hours in which said primary elections are being held. 

Sec. 2. Be it further enacted. That the officers for each 
election precinct, ward, or district in all primary elections held 
under the provisions hereof shall be the same number as is re¬ 
quired and designated by law to hold regular State elections, and 
their duties and responsibilities shall be precisely the same as 
those of legally appointed and regularly qualified officers of regu¬ 
lar State elections. They shall be appointed by the regularly 
organized and constituted committee or governing authority 
of the political party holding such primary election, and shall, 
before entering upon the discharge of their respective duties, 
take- the same oath required to be taken by officers of regular 
State elections. The officers in each primary election, precinct, 
ward, or district shall be selected from lists furnished by the 
ward or district committeemen at lea’st ten days before such 
primary election, and shall be as nearly equally divided as possi¬ 
ble as to judges, clerks, and officers among the various candidates. 
The officers of all primary elections held under the provisions 
hereof shall have the same power and privileges as officers of regu¬ 
lar State elections, and shall be subject to the same restrictions, 
limitations, and conditions. Any act or deed denounced by 
general law as an offense in the case of officers of regular State 
elections is hereby declared to be an offense in the case of officers 
of such primary elections, and ‘shall be punished in the same form 
and manner as is prescribed by general law. 

Sec. 3. Be it further enacted. That the Executive Commit¬ 
tee of such political party shall provide a suitable ballot for 
each of such primary elections at leasit three days prior to such 
election, and shall distribute the same to judges of elections imme- 


34 


ELECTIONS. 


diately prior to tlie opening of the polls, andlio other ballot shall 
be legal or shall be counted in such election. 

Sec. 4. Be it further enacted, That any person desiring to 
submit his name to the voters in a primary election shall not 
later than fifteen days next preceding the holding of such pri¬ 
mary election apprise the committee or governing authority of the 
political party holding such primary of the fact that he is a 
candidate, and upon complying with the condiitons prescribed 
by the committee or governing authority for the regulation of 
candidates, shall be declared to be a candidate by the committee 
or governing authority of such political party; and any person 
who has not given such notice to the committee or governing 
authority or who has not complied with the conditions prescribed 
by the committee or governing authority for the government of 
candidates shall not have his name printed on the ballots used 
in such primary election; but any person desiring to vote for 
another than the persons whose names are printed on such 
ballots shall have the right to do so by writing the name of the 
person for whom he desires to vote in the space on the ballot set 
apart for the names of the candidates for such office as he may 
desire such person so voted for to hold. 

Sec. 5. Be it further enacted, That within such time as is 
provided by law in the case of State eleetions and in the same 
manner the election returns in all primary elections shall be 
deposited with the committee or governing authority of the 
political party under whose direction and control such primary 
election was held at such place as the committee or governing 
authority shall designate at which to receive such returns, and 
any person who shall change or in any wise alter such returns 
shall be punished in the same form and manner as is provided by 
general law for the punishment of any person who change’s or in 
any wise alters the returns of a regular State election. 

Sec. 6 . Be it further enacted, That in any county affected 
by the provisions of this Act the Election Commissioners of such 
county, when notified by the Executive Committee of the party 
intending to hold a primary election on the date fixed for such 
election, shall cause a supplemental registration of three days to 
be held, closing at least twenty days before the said primary, and 
the supplemental registration shall in all respects accord with 
the provisions of the general election law governing supplemental 
registration; Provided, that no expense shall accrue to any 


ELECTIONS. 


35 


county or municipality by reason of the supplemental registration 
* herein provided for. 

Sec. 7. Be it further enacted. That the regularly appointed 
Registrars under the general election laws, shall serve in all 
primary elections; Provided, that only such regular Registrars 
who affiliate with the political party holding said primary elec¬ 
tion shall serve as Registrars in said primary election; and, 
Provided, further, that said Registrars shall appoint one addi¬ 
tional Registrar of the political party holding the primary elec¬ 
tion to serve with him in said primary election. 

Sec. 8. Be it further enacted. That the general election law 
which provides that any person desiring to vote shall have as 
a condition precedent thereto paid his poll tax shall hot be appli¬ 
cable to primary elections held under this Act. 

Sec. 9. Be it further enacted, That any judge, clerk, officer 
of such primary, election or any voter or other person who 
would be deemed guilty of any offense against the general elec¬ 
tion laws in a general election who- is found guilty of the same 
offense in any primary election as herein provided for shall be 
deemed guilty of a felony, and shall, on conviction, be punished 
by confinement in the penitentiary for not less than one nor 
more than three years. 

Sec. 10. Be it further enacted. That the duly authorized and 
constituted committee or governing authority in the county or 
district in which a primary election may be held hereunder 
is hereby empowered to- count the votes received by all candidates 
in such primary elections, and to declare the candidate 
or candidates in cases where candidates for more than one office 
are to be nominated receiving the highest number of votes 
the nominee of such political party for the office for which he 
was voted for at such primary election. In all cases of a tie vote 
or contest the committee or governing authority of the political 
party holding such primary election shall have the power, and 
it shall be its duty, to hear and determine such contest and decide 
who shall be entitled to the nomination. In case there be more 
than two candidates for nomination to any office voted for in 
said primary, and no one candidate receives a majority of the 
votes cast at said primary election, then the committee or govern¬ 
ing authority of the political party holding such primary 
election can, if it 'sees fit, order for the two candidates receiving 


36 


ELECTIONS. 


the highest number of votes a run off to determine the party 
candidate for said office; Provided, however, if this section of * 
the law is to be taken advantage of, it must be made known when 
the primary election is called. The proceedings in such cases shall 
be in such form and manner as the committee or governing 
authority shall determine upon. Before entering upon the dis¬ 
charge of the duties set forth in this Act the committee or 
governing authority shall be sworn by some officer authorized by 
law to administer an oath to faithfully and honestly discharge 
the duties herein imposed, and the failure upon the part of 
any member of the committee or governing authority to discharge 
such duties faithfully and honestly shall be deemed a misdemean¬ 
or, and the persons so offending shall, upon indictment and con¬ 
viction in the Circuit or Criminal Court of the county or district, 
be fined not les^ than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more 
than five hundred dollars ($500) and be imprisoned in the 
county jail not less than sixty days nor more than one year. 

Sec. 11. Be it further enacted, That all expenses for holding 
such primary election shall be borne by the political party holding 
the same, and the cost of publishing and circulating notices of 
elections, and all other expenses shall be defrayed in such man¬ 
ner as may be provided by the committee or governing authority 
of the political party holding such primaries; Provided, the only 
expense incurred shall be for advertising the election and the 
cost of printing tickets. The ballots used in such primary 
election shall be printed by order of the committee or governing 
authority having direction and control of such primaries under 
the same restrictions and limitations as is provided by general 
law for the printing of ballots used in regular State elections. 

Sec. 12. Be it further enacted, That each of the candidates 
votcrd .for at any election held under the provisions of this Act 
shall be entitled to an inspector of count, and for that purpose 
may appoint in writing an inspector of count to be present and 
witness the easting and count the ballots in said election in each 
voting place in the district, ward, or county wherein said elec¬ 
tion is held, and said inspector shall have free access to the 
polling places during the progress of said election; Provided, if 
there be more than five and less than ten candidates, any two of 
said candidates shall jointly appoint one inspector; if there 
be more than ten candidates and less than twenty, then any 
three of said candidates shall jointly appoint one inspector, and 


ELECTIONS. 


37 


for all over twenty, then any five of said candidates shall jointly 
appoint such inspector. It shall be the duty of the judges on 
the close of the polls to admit to the count of the vote as inspector 
any person as herein provided who submits to them an appoint¬ 
ment in writing from any candidate or candidates. Any person 
presenting to the judge of said election an appointment in writing 
from any candidate or candidates at the close of the polls as 
aforesaid shall be permitted to be present and witness the count 
of the ballots ,and any judge or officer of election who shall pre¬ 
vent such authorized inspector to be present at the count of the 
ballots shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall, upon indict¬ 
ment and conviction in the Circuit or Criminal Court, be fined 
not less than $100 nor more than $500. 

Sec. 13. Be it further enacted, That the committee or gov¬ 
erning authority of the political party holding such election 
shall designate in the public notice required to be given of said 
election the hours between which said election shall be held, before 
the hour of 12 m., and not later than 8 -.30 p. m., in the different 
wards and districts of counties affected by this Act. 

Sec. 14. Be it further enacted, That this Act take effect from 
and after its passage, the public welfare requiring it.—Ch. 422, 
Acts 1907. 


38 


ELECTIONS. 


POPULATION TENNESSEE COUNTIES, 
CENSUS 1900. 

And Kind of Ballots to be Used. 

Population. 

Anderson County— Districts.17364 

Districts Nos. 5 and 13 registration required and 
Australian ballot used. In all other districts 
3x7 ballot. 

Bedford County —25 districts.,.23845 

District No. 7 Australian ballo tused and registra¬ 
tion required. In all other districts 3x7 ballots. 

Benton County—14: Districts.11888 

3x7 ballot used in all districts. 

Bledsoe Count—12 Districts. 6626 

Registration required and Australian ballot used, 
Chapter 544, Acts 1907. 

Blount County—19 Districts.19206 

3x7 ballots used in -all districts. 

Bladley County—14 Districts.15759 

Registration required and Australian ballot used in 
District No. 6, in all other districts 3x7 ballot used. 

Campbell County—16 Districts.17317 

Registration required and Australian ballot used 
in District No. 17, in all other districts 3x7 ballot 
used. 

Cannon County—15 Districts.12121 

3x7 ballot used in all districts. Chapter 404 Acts 
1907 (County divided into six districts.) 

Carroll County —25 Districts.24250 

3x7 ballot used in all districts. 

Carter County —18 Districts...'.16688 

3x7 ballot used in all districts. 

Cheatham County—15 Districts.10112 

3x7 ballot used in all districts. 













ELECTIONS. 


Chester County—13 Districts.. 9896 

^ Registration required and Australian ballot used in 
District No. 6, in all other districts 3x7 ballot used. 

Claiborne Comity—15 Districts.20696 

Registration required and Australian ballot used in 
District No. 6, in all other districts 3x7 ballot used. 

Clay County —12 Districts. 8421 

3x7 ballot used in all districts. 

Cocke County —17 Districts.19153 

Australian ballot used in District No. 6, in all 
others 3x7 ballot. 

Coffee County —16 Districts.15574 

Registration required and Australian ballot used in 
District No. 13, in all other districts 3x7 ballot used. 

Crockett County —15 Districts.15867 

3x7 ballot used in all districts. 

Cumberland County —12 Districts. 8311 

3x7 ballot used in all districts. 

Davidson County —25 Districts.122815 

Registration required and Australian ballot used in 
all districts. 

Decatur County —12 Districts.10439 

No registration and 3x7 ballot used in all districts. 

DeKalb County—22 Districts.16460 

District No. 9 Australian ballot used and registra- 
tione required. In all other districts 3x7 ballot used. 

Dickson County—11 Districts. .18633 

Registration required and Australian ballot used in 
Districts Nos. 5 and 6, in all other districts 3x7 
ballot used. 

Dyer County—IS Districts.23776 

Registration required and Australian ballot used in 
Districts Nos. 4 and 6. In all other districts 3x7 
ballot used. 














40 


ELECTIONS. 


Fayette County— Districts.29701 

Registration required and Australian ballot used in 
District No. 4, in all other districts 3x7 ballot used. 

Fentress County—V6 Districts. 6106 

No registration and 3x7 ballot used in all districts. 

Franklin County—19 Districts.20392 

Registration required and Australian ballot used in 
District No. 1, in all other districts 3x7 ballot used. 

Gibson County—25 Districts.39408 

Registration required and Australian ballot used in 
Districts 3, 7, 8^ 13 and 21. In all other districts 
3x7 ballot used. 

Giles County —22 Districts.33035- 

Registration required and Australian ballot used in 
District No. 7. In all other districts 3x7 ballot 
used. 

Gramger County—Ih Districts...15512 

No registration and 3x7 ballot used in all districts. 

Greene County —25 Districts.30596 

Registration required and Australian ballot used in 
District No. 10 and 3x7 ballot used in all other 
districts. 

Grundy County—IS Districts. 8702 

No registration and 3x7 ballot used in all districts. 

Hamblen County—12 Districts.12728 

No registration and 3x7 ballot used in all districts. 

Hamilton County —^0 Districts. 61695 

Registration required and Australian ballot used in 
all districts. 

Hancock County—11 Districts.11147 

No registration and 3x7 ballot used in all districts. 

Hardeman County—20 Districts.22976 

Registration required and Australian ballot used in 
Districts Nos. 4 and 6, and 3x7 ballot used in all 
other districts. 














ELECTIONS. 


41 


Hardin County —8 Districts.19246 

^ Registration required and Australian ballot used in 
Districts Nos. 7 and 9, and 3x7 ballot used in all 

Hawkins Comity—20 Districts.24267 

No registration and 3x7 ballot used in all districts. 

Haywood County —12 Districts.25189 

Registration required and Australian ballot used in 
4, 5 and 8, and 3x7 ballot used in all other districts. 

Henderson County—20 Districts.18117 

No registration and 3x7 ballot in all districts. 

Henry County —25 Districts.....24208 

Registration required and Australian ballot used in 
District No. 1, 3x7 ballot used in all other districts. 

Hickman Ccnirnty—l^ Districts.16367 

Australian ballot and registration in District No. 1, 
and 3x7 ballot in all other districts. 

Houston County—S Districts. 6476 

No registration and 3x7 ballot in all districts. 

Humphreys County—15 Districts .13396 

No registration and 3x7 ballot used in all districts. 

Jackson County —15 Districts.15039 

No registration and 3x7 ballot used in all districts. 

James County—10 Districts. 5407 

No registration and 3x7 ballot used in all districts. 

Jefferson County—19 Districts.18590 

No registration and 3x7 ballot used in all districts. 

Johnson County—10 Districts.10589 

No registration and 3x7 ballot used in all districts. 

Knox County—21 Districts. 74302 

Registration required and Australian ballot used in 
all districts. 

Lake County—S Districts. 7368 

No registration and 3x7 ballot used in all districts. 
















42 


ELECTIONS. 


Lauderdale County—1^ Districts.21971 

Australian ballot and registration in District No. 2, 
District No. 2, in all other districts 3x7 ballot used. 

Lawrence County—15 Districts.. .15402 

No registration and 3x7 ballot used in all districts. 

Lewis County—10 Districts. 4455 

No registration and 3x7 ballot used in all districts. 

Lincoln County—25 Districts.26304 

Registration required and Australian ballot used in 
District No. 8, and 3x7 ballot used in all other dis¬ 
tricts. 

Loudon County—11 Districts. 10838 

No registration and 3x7 ballot used in all districts. 

McMinn County —18 District.19163 

No registration and 3x7 ballot used in all districts. 

McNairy County—19 Districts.17760 

Registration required and Australian ballot used in 
District No. 6, and 3x7 ballot used in all other 
districts. 

Macon County—12 Districts.12881 

No registration and 3x7 ballot used in all districts. 

Madison County—IS Districts.36333- 

Registration required and Australian ballot used in 
District No. 15, and 3x7 ballot used in all other 
districts. 

Marion County—16 Districts.17281 

Registration required and Australian ballot used in 
District No. 15 and 3x7 ballot used in all other 
districts. 

Marshall County—IS Districts.18763 

Registration required and Australian ballot used in 
District No. 15 and 3x7 ballot used in all other 
districts. 

Maury County—25 Districts.42703 














ELECTIONS. 43 

Registration required and Australian ballot used. 
Applies to entire county, Chapter 387, Acts 1905. 

Meigs County—^ Districts. 7491 

No registration and 3x7 ballot used in all districts. 

Mmroe County—20 Districts....18585 

Australian ballt and registration in District No. 1, 

3x7 ballot used in all other districts. 

Montgomery County—21 Districts.36017 

Registration required and Australian ballot used in 
Districts. Nos. 1 and 12 and 3x7 ballot used in all 
other districts. 

Moore County —11 Districts.,. 5706 

No registration and 3x7 ballot used in all districts. 

Morgan County —12 Districts. 9587 

No registration and 3x7 ballot used in all districts. 

Ohion County—16 Districts.28286 

Registration required and Australian ballot used in 
District's Nos. 6, 13 and 16, and 3x7 ballot used in 
all other districts. 

Overton County—11 Districts. .28286 

No registration and 3x7 ballot used in all districts. 

Perry County—11 Districts.. 8800 

No registration and 3x7 ballot used in all districts. 

Pickett County —10 Districts. 5366 

No registration and 3x7 ballot used in all districts. 

Polk County—11 Districts.11357 

No registration and 3x7 ballot used in all districts. 

Putnam County—20 Districts.16890' 

Registration required and Australian ballot used in 
District No. 1 and 3x7 ballot used in all other 
districts. 

Rhea County—16 Districts.14318- 

No registration and 3x7 ballot used in all districts. 














44 


ELECTIONS. 


Roane County —18 Districts.22738 

Registration required and Australian ballot used in 
Districts Nos. 13 and 16, and 3x7 ballot used in all 
other districts. 

Robertson Co^lnty—IS Districts.25029 

Registration required and Australian ballot used in 
District No. 9, and 3x7 ballot used in all other 
districts. 

Rutherford County—2^ Districts.33543 

Registration required and Australian ballot used in 
District No. 13, and 3x7 ballot used in all other 
districts. 

Scott County —14 Districts.*.11077 

No registration and 3x7 ballot used in all districts. 

Sequatchie County —8 Districts. 3326 

No registration and 3x7 ballot used in all districts. 

Sevier County—11 Districts. 22021 

Registration required and Australian ballot used in 
District No. 5, and 3x7 ballot u'sed in all other 
districts. 

Shelby County—19 Districts.153557 

Registration required and Australian ballot used in 
all districts. 

Smith County—22 Districts.19026 

No registration and 3x7 ballot used in all districts. 

Stewart County—12 Districts.15224 

No registration and 3x7 ballot used in all districts. 

Sullivan County—22 Districts. .24935 

Registration required and Australian ballot used in 
District No. 17, and 3x7 ballot used in all other 
districts. 

Sumner County—IQ Districts. 26072 

Registration required and Australian ballot used in 
Districts No's. 3 and 12, and 3x7 ballot used in all 
other districts. 













ELECTIONS. 


45 


Tipton County— Districts.29273 

Registration required and Australian ballot used in 
Districts Nos. 1, 7 and 8, and 3x7 ballot used in all 
other districts. 

Trousdale County—10 Districts. 6004 

No registration and 3x7 ballot used in all districts. 

Unicoi County—12 Districts. 5651 

,No registration and 3x7 ballot used in all districts. 

Union County —16 Districts.12894 

No registration and 3x7 ballot used in all districts. 

Van Buren County —8 Districts. 3126 

No registration and 3x7 ballot used in all districts. 

Warren County —16 Districts.16410 

No registration and 3x7 ballot used in all districts. 

Acts of 1905. 

Washington County —18 Districts.22604 

Australian ballot and registration in District No. 

9, and 3x7 ballot used in all other districts. 

Wayne County—11 Districts. 12936 

No registration and 3x7 ballot used in all districts. 

Weakley County^2^ Districts.32546 

Registration required and Australian ballot used in 
Districts Nos. 7 and 9, and 3x7 ballot used in all 
other districts. 

White County—11 Districts..14157 

No registration and 3x7 ballot used in all districts. 

Williamson County—23 Districts.26429 

Registration required and Australian ballot used in 
District No. 9, and 3x7 ballot used in all other 
districts. 

Wilson County—2^ Districts. 27078 

Registration required and Australian ballot used in 
District No. 10, and 3x7 ballot used in all other 
districts. 






















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